In sickness and in health: maintaining intimacy after breast cancer recurrence.

Sexual well-being after breast cancer recurrence has received little clinical attention. In discussing the sexual difficulties after recurrence we draw upon our longitudinal studies of newly diagnosed patients. It is noted that sexuality declines after a patient's initial diagnosis and treatment, with further decline after recurrence. However, data suggest that couples strive to maintain intimacy as the health of the patient falters, providing further evidence of the resilience of patients coping with a worsened prognosis.